A Plastic Ocean

Over the last week we have watched and discussed a powerful documentary about the use of plastic by humanity. It powerfully showed us the impact plastic is having on our environment and us. Look out for the students blogs to discover some of the problems with plastic. Here are just a few things:

• Plastic doesn't go away. We have the mistaken idea that when we throw plastic into the rubbish it just magically disappears. It doesn't. The plastic ends up in the ground or in the ocean. It breaks apart in the ocean into micro plastics (little pieces). Toxins from commercial waste attach themselves to the micro plastics. The micro plastics get eaten by fish and then we eat the fish.
• Scientists who study the leeching of chemicals from plastic have discovered a number of chemicals that leech from plastic into foods. BPA is one of these chemicals, however, it is just one of many.
• Plastic in the ocean dramatically affects wildlife. Many seabirds and other animals are dying from ingesting plastic (Photo example below).

The documentary also explored ways we can reduce the impact of plastic. Here are just a few things.

• REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE - We discussed how the first one in the list REDUCE is the most important. Often we can avoid the use of single use plastic.
• Germany has made plastic recycling the problem of the retailers. If you sell something plastic you are responsible for the recycling of it. People can recycle their plastic, get cash for it, and in the process who made the plastic is identified so that they pay for the recycling.
• Rwanda is the first country to go plastic bag free. Paper bags are their go to storage bag.
• Put pressure on our government and retailers to reduce plastic use.